The Samnites

The day starts with a visit to the Santa Chiara National Archaeological Museum which houses finds from Venafrum, as well as other important sites, including the abbey of San Vincenzo. Here alongside imperial statues, we see the so-called Venus of Venafrum. We proceed to the Pandone Castle, originally built in the 10^th century on the remains of earlier fortifications and redecorated in the Renaissance when frescoes of horses were executed. We proceed along the River Volturno where, at the headwaters of the river, we visit at San Vincenzo al Volturno. Here we explore excavations, partly conducted by your guide lecturer, which have revealed the great ninth century Carolingian Abbey and its painted crypt. This was a major center of culture in the Medieval period - a light in the so-called Dark Ages.

Hotel in Castelpetroso

This morning we explore Isernia, which was a strategic Samnite city which dominated the roads across Italy. Renamed Aesernia after its seizure by Rome the city proved its worth in the war against Hannibal. Our first visit is to the National Museum of the Paleolithic, which displays the amazing Palaeolithic finds from the area; we continue to the excavations under the Cathedral and the Civic Museum of the Memory and History. We drive onwards to Saepinum where a market town was established to control the movement of flocks from the grasslands of Apulia north to Rome, as is attested in an inscription found on the site.

We drive to Agnone famed for its bronze casting tradition and the location of a Papal bell foundry and has been making bells for generations. The Oscan table, found here in the 19^th century, is the most important inscription in the region and gives us priceless information about Oscan, the language spoken by Samnites. We move onto Pietrabbondate where we explore the excavated remains of the ritual sanctuary of the Pentri tribe. Used for major religious events, the huge temple and theatre were the seat of discussions regarding peace and war. It was destroyed by Cornelius Sulla in the Social War. In the afternoon we drive to Schiavi di Abruzzo were we see another mountain sanctuary which boasts two well preserved and reconstructed temples. 

Hotel in Castelpetroso

Today we venture into the Abruzzi mountains to Iuvanum, a market town established for the ancient shepherds of the uplands, which includes a sizeable forum designed as an ancient market for the buying and selling of livestock, as well as temples and a small theatre. We proceed across the Sangro River to the Rocca Scalegna, where we visit the Angevin castle, which was built during its conflict with the Aragonese and which is dramatically set, clinging to an overhanging rock. Afterwards, we head to Chieti to visit the National Museum Villa Frigerj whose highlights include the extraordinary Capestrano Warrior and an inscription found in Penna Sant’Andrea which is written in Paleosabellic, an ancient Italian language. 

Hotel in Sivli Marina

The days starts in the wide valley of Sulmona were we visit the sanctuary of Hercules Curino, one of the most important ancient shrines of Abruzzo, dedicated to a deity venerated by travelers and sailors. The sanctuary is laid out on a number of terraces, the oldest of which is on the highest level; on the middle level there is a shrine which preserves a polychromatic mosaic and frescoes. We proceed to the UNESCO listed Oratory of San Pellegrino in Bominaco, a Benedictine Carolingian chapel which preserves priceless frescoes, as well as the Romanesque church of Santa Maria Assunta. After lunch we visit Fossa, where a unique Samnite tumulus cemetery is criss-crossed with rows of standing stones. 

Hotel in L’Aquila

On our last day, we pay a quick visit to L’Aquila. The medieval city was devastated by an earthquake in 2009 and is still being reconstructed. Here we visit the famous fountain of the 99 spouts, gifted to the city by Emperor Frederick II. Then on to Aminternum, a substantial Roman city whose remains include a theater and amphitheatre. After lunch we proceed to Rome for our flight home.